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Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania

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Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED BAUXITE MINE, ESK MAIN ROAD, EAST OF CONARA (“FINGAL RAIL”), TASMANIA Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Australian Bauxite Limited 19 May 2014 Mark Wapstra ABN 83 464 107 291 28 Suncrest Avenue email: [email protected] business ph.:(03) 62 283 220 Lenah Valley, TAS 7008 web: www.ecotas.com.au mobile ph.: 0407 008 685 ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting CITATION This report can be cited as: ECOtas (2014). Ecological Assessment of Proposed Bauxite Mine, Esk Main Road, East of Conara (“Fingal Rail”), Tasmania. Report by Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) for Australian Bauxite Limited, 19 May 2014. AUTHORSHIP Field assessment: Mark Wapstra (assistance from Tamara Coyte, ABx) Report production: Mark Wapstra Habitat and vegetation mapping: Mark Wapstra Base data for mapping: TheList, TasMap, ABx, pitt&sherry GIS mapping: Mark Wapstra Digital and aerial photography: Mark Wapstra, GoogleEarth, TheList, BirdsEye (Garmin) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tamara Coyte (ABx) provided background information and on-site guidance/field assistance; Nicky Pollington (pitt&sherry) provided background information. Staff of the Tasmanian Herbarium provided information on the collections of Leucopogon virgatus. COVER ILLUSTRATION View of old army camp site, where three threatened plants are present. Insets (top: L-R): Siloxerus multiflorus (small wrinklewort), Aphelia pumilio (dwarf fanwort), Tricoryne elatior (yellow rushlily), Arthropodium strictum (chocolate lily); bottom: L-R): Stylidium despectum (small triggerplant), Aphelia gracilis (slender fanwort), Myriophyllum integrifolium (tiny watermilfoil), Stackhousia subterranea (grassland candles). Please note: the blank pages in this document are deliberate to facilitate double-sided printing. Ecological Assessment, “Fingal Rail” Proposed Bauxite Mine i ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting Ecological Assessment, “Fingal Rail” Proposed Bauxite Mine ii ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting CONTENTS SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE, SCOPE, LIMITATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SURVEY ................................ 4 Purpose .................................................................................................................. 4 Scope ..................................................................................................................... 4 Limitations .............................................................................................................. 4 Qualifications ........................................................................................................... 5 Permit .................................................................................................................... 5 THE STUDY AREA ............................................................................................................ 5 THE PROPOSAL ............................................................................................................... 6 METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 6 Nomenclature .......................................................................................................... 6 Preliminary investigation ........................................................................................... 7 Previous assessments for threatened flora ................................................................... 7 Present survey......................................................................................................... 9 Botanical assessment .......................................................................................... 9 Zoological assessment ....................................................................................... 10 RESULTS ...................................................................................................................... 10 Vegetation types .................................................................................................... 10 Comments on TASVEG mapping .......................................................................... 10 Vegetation types recorded as part of the present study .......................................... 11 Plant species ......................................................................................................... 12 General observations ......................................................................................... 12 Priority species recorded from the study area – previous records ............................. 13 Priority flora species recorded from the study area – records from present assessment 20 Potential impacts of the proposal on threatened flora ............................................. 26 Recommended mitigation and monitoring strategy for threatened flora ..................... 30 Comments on priority flora recorded from databases .............................................. 31 Fauna species ........................................................................................................ 42 General observations ......................................................................................... 42 Priority fauna species recorded from the study area – records from present assessment ...................................................................................................... 43 Comments on priority fauna recorded from databases ............................................ 45 Other ecological values ........................................................................................... 51 Matters of National Environmental Significance –Threatened Ecological Communities .. 51 Weed species ................................................................................................... 51 Ecological Assessment, “Fingal Rail” Proposed Bauxite Mine iii ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting Rootrot pathogen, Phytophthora cinnamomi .......................................................... 52 Myrtle wilt and rust ........................................................................................... 54 Chytrid fungus and other freshwater pathogens ..................................................... 54 DISCUSSION ................................................................................................................ 54 Summary of key findings......................................................................................... 54 Legislative and policy implications ............................................................................ 57 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 63 APPENDIX A. Vegetation community structure and composition ............................................ 66 APPENDIX B. Vascular plant species recorded from study area ............................................. 68 APPENDIX C. Vertebrate fauna recorded from study area .................................................... 73 APPENDIX D. Images of threatened flora and threatened flora habitat ................................... 77 APPENDIX E. Images of threatened fauna and threatened fauna habitat ................................ 83 APPENDIX F. Images of declared weeds ............................................................................ 84 APPENDIX G. DPIPWE’s Natural Values Atlas report for study area ........................................ 85 APPENDIX H. DSEWPaC’s Protected Matters report for study area ......................................... 85 APPENDIX I. Forest Practices Authority’s Fauna Values Database report for study area ............ 85 Ecological Assessment, “Fingal Rail” Proposed Bauxite Mine iv ECOtas…providing options in environmental consulting SUMMARY General Australian Bauxite Limited (ABx) engaged Environmental Consulting Options Tasmania (ECOtas) to undertake an ecological assessment of private property east of Conara and north of the Esk Main Road, Tasmania, Tasmania, proposed for development as a bauxite mine, primarily to facilitate further land use planning through various Commonwealth, State and local government planning procedures. The study area was assessed on 15 November 2013 and 19 March 2014 by Mark Wapstra. Summary of key findings Non-priority flora (e.g. species of biogeographic significance) One species of potentially high conservation significance was detected: Pheladenia deformis (blue fairies) was identified from one site, which is probably outside areas to be disturbed, such that special management is not considered warranted. Non-priority fauna (e.g. species of biogeographic significance) No species of high conservation significance detected – no special management actions required. Threatened flora No plant species, listed as threatened on the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, were detected within the study area – no special management actions are required. Thirteen plant species, listed as threatened on the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, were detected within the study area, as follows: Arthropodium strictum (chocolate lily): widespread and
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